Intra-specific heterogeneity of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer in the Simulium damnosum (Diptera: Simuliidae) complex

The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the rRNA gene cluster has been used as a model for the study of the action of concerted evolution and molecular drive on repeated sequence families. In contrast to this general finding, preliminary DNA sequence analysis of cloned representatives of the ITS from the West African black fly species complex Simulium damnosum s.l. demonstrated extensive intra-individual and intra-specific polymorphisms. Variability in the ITS was primarily confined to the ITS1 domain. The degree and type of intra-individual and intraspecific variability within the ITS was further characterized using gel electrophoresis, DNA hybridization, and heteroduplex analysis of the PCR products generated from the ITS1 domain. ITS1 copies from individual S. damnosum s.l. differed in length and sequence composition. These results, when taken together, demonstrate that a large degree of intra-individual and intra-specific heterogeneity exists in the ITS of S. damnosum s.l. The intra-individual heterogeneity was greater in the savanna-dwelling than forest-dwelling sibling species of S. damnosum s.l. This heterogeneity may be due in part to inter-breeding among sympatric sibling species, coupled with disturbance of S. damnosum s.l. populations resulting from intensive vector control efforts.